SLO residents voice budget concerns

January 9, 2013

Katie Lichtig

Members of the public voiced their concerns during a San Luis Obispo City Council community forum Tuesday on city priorities for the upcoming two-year budget cycle.

Council members listened to multiple hours of public comment from a large crowd at the Ludwick Community Center, which then voted on the most important topics discussed by placing dots next to preferable city goals.

The city hired a private consultant to run the meeting, despite the fact that it consisted almost entirely of public comment and that Mayor Jan Marx will run another public input meeting on Saturday. City Manager Katie Lichtig can spend any amount under $25,000 without council approval.

During Tuesday’s community forum, city residents, young and old, plead the council to fund a new skate park. Proponents of the skate park said the city overlooks skateboarding as a sport, and private fundraising efforts have failed.

Planning Commissioner Eric Meyer and former council candidate Kevin Rice each supported the plea for a city funded skate park.

Other common complaints included transient traffic around Mission Plaza and a lack of implementation of the council’s plans for economic development.

The council says it will consider the public input from Tuesday’s forum in creating its list of major city goals for the 2013-2015 budget.

The community forum Saturday will focus on the issue of homelessness and will take place at the City-County Library at 9:30 a.m.